This year marks one hundred years of Acadia, Maine’s only national park. Born ‘officially’ on July 8, 1916, Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island has brought joy to generations of people the world over. Today we speak with David MacDonald, president and CEO of Friends of Acadia, Cookie Horner, co-chair of the Acadia Centennial Task Force, and her husband, Bill Horner, president of the MDI Historical Society.
Acadia Centennial #240 Transcription
Maine is not just a place to live—it is a place to make a life. Today we speak with four people who are creating successful businesses that feature the tastes of Maine. Our first guest is chef and restauranteur Harding Lee Smith, owner of The Rooms in Portland, who is expanding his presences to one of Maine’s favorite ski mountains this year. Our other guests–Chris Avantaggio, John Turner and Nate O’Leary—are co-founders of Cratefull of Maine, a company that is sending the taste of Maine around the world.
Taste of Maine #239 Transcription
The Wayfinder Schools have been helping at-risk Maine students for decades. In 2011, Maine’s first alternative high school, The Community School, merged with century-old organization Opportunity Farm to form the Wayfinder Schools. Today we speak with Wayfinder board member, Barbara Russo and her husband, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Richard Russo, about their work with the school, their life as a couple for the past 43 years and his newest novel, “Everybody’s Fool.”
Photo by Emma Wilson
Wayfinding #238
Life informs art—and vice versa. As human creatures, we benefit from experiencing art as a way of helping us explore some of the larger questions we may find ourselves pondering. Today, we speak with internationally known Maine-based artist, Eric Hopkins, about how his art has been shaped by his interaction with the world. We also speak with Emma Wilson, managing director of Art Collector Maine and the Portland Art Gallery, about an innovative project focusing on the body as a work of art.
Life as Art #237 Transcription
Where do you find your adventures? Maine offers something for everyone in the realm of adventure. Today we speak with Holly Twining, founder of Maine Yoga Adventures, and Tino Fuimara & Taki Miyamoto of Salt Pump Climbing, about the ways they are helping people get up and out in search of adventure.
Adventuring Up & Outdoors #236
Maine appeals to a broad range of people in part because of its beautiful coast. More than simply coming here for recreation, many people find creative ways to make a living with the water as inspiration. Today we speak with entrepreneurs Ben Davis, founder of True Course Yachting, and Shana Ready, designer and founder of The Ropes.
Coastal Creativity #235 Transcription
Mary Herman is a woman of many talents. She has intersected with and supported Mainers in countless areas, including education, health, and the non-profit world. Today we speak with Maine’s former ‘First Lady’ about her experiences as advocate, and how she hopes to continue her good work in the years to come.
First Lady #234 Transcription
Food is one our favorite subjects: we love the nourishment that it provides, on so many levels. Not only does it provide our bodies with fuel, but it also brings us together with family and friends—both in the kitchen and around the table. Today we discuss these ideas with Justin and Danielle Walker, the husband and wife team who run the restaurant Earth at Hidden Pond, and with Old Port and Maine magazine food editor, Karen Watterson.
Photo by Greta Rybus
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Maine has been ‘growing goodwill’ in its communities for decades. Today we speak with Julia Sleeper, Founder and Executive Director of Tree Street Youth Center in Lewiston, which has been supporting area children through academics, the arts and athletics for the past ten years. We also speak with Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, President and CEO of Goodwill Northern New England, a one-hundred-year old organization that helps families find stability through work, and letting nothing go to waste.
Growing Goodwill #232 Transcription
The spaces in which we dwell, work and recreate have an undeniable impact on our well-being. Who are the people that design our spaces—and why have they chosen this profession? Today we speak with architects Caleb Johnson and Kevin Browne about their love of space, and how this has translated into interactions with the community at large.
Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world. We Mainers love our tea—and have many ways in which to enjoy this healthful and nourishing drink. Today we speak with Ray Marcotte and Ellen Kanner of Dobrá Tea, and with Sarah Richards of Homegrown Herb and Tea, about types of tea, how tea is best enjoyed, and what specific benefits we may derive from drinking tea. You will love this informative episode.
Tea Time #230 Transcription